Discovery of Self

This week I had the opportunity to care for two of my grandchildren for a few hours. What a treat! To love and be loved unconditionally nurtures the soul. It is especially interesting to observe how each of them is discovering his personhood – physically, mentally and emotionally. I can see evidence of spiritual understanding, also. Yet, I know as their self-discovery continues there will be days of wrestling with God’s grace for us all.

As William and Ethan continue to discover how self and other are mysteriously joined, a healthy sense of self-love can be an important ingredient to their future. Jesus understood this when he says, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Loving the good in oneself strengthens our ability to love and care for those who come into view along the way. It allows the image of God in us to grow toward its mature fullness. As adults, our challenge becomes to consciously measure each word and action so that our children can know this self-love. Perhaps, this is one of the best gifts that we can give them.